LOS ANGELES (AP) – A rowdy crowd filled the Los Angeles city council classrooms on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of three council members who attended a closed-door meeting that used racist language to describe colleagues – including the son of a city councilor – when they conspired to safeguard Latin power in the municipal districts.
President Joe Biden added to the criticism, saying through White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that former Prime Minister Nury Martínez, who has requested leave, and Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, all Democrats , they should resign.
“The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable and deplorable. Everyone should step down, ”said Jean-Pierre.
The outrage was sparked by a leaked recording of harsh, racist comments made at a meeting nearly a year ago, which also exposed racial rivalries at the city hall. All the people involved in the meeting were Latinos.
In the taped conversation, Martinez is heard saying that councilor Mike Bonin, who is white, has handled his young black son as if he were an “accessory”, claiming that his son “looks like a monkey,” the Los Angeles reported. Sunday. He also referred to Bonin as a “little whore”.
Elsewhere in the recording, Martínez, the first Latina to hold the presidency of the municipal council, is told that the indigenous immigrants of the Mexican state of Oaxaca are “so ugly.”
The discussion, which also saw the participation of an influential Latin trade union leader who has since stepped down, focused on protecting Latin political power during the reorganization of the council. The process, which takes place once every 10 years, can be confronted with different groups seeking political advantages for future elections.
In the council rooms, a large crowd delayed the start of the meeting on Tuesday, asking De Leon and Cedillo to leave the room. Police officers squeezed into the crowd to unsuccessfully demand that the protesters sit down.
One woman held up a banner reading “Nury, your time is up” and another protester waved a “Take out the trash” sign.
“Resign now,” the protesters asked, sometimes using profanity among their slogans. Others shouted: “This meeting cannot begin. This fence is out of place “and” Out! “
De Leon stood impassive on the spot, his eyes downcast as the protesters shouted his name and asked him to leave the room. Others of the 15 council members asked the crowd to calm down and allow the session to begin.
Martinez resigned from the presidency, but not his council seat, and apologized on Monday, saying he was ashamed of the racist language he used in the tape.
On Tuesday, he announced that he needed to “take a break and take time for an honest and sincere conversation with my family, my constituents and community leaders.” She did not attend the session on Tuesday.
In an emotional statement during the meeting, Bonin said he was deeply hurt by what was heard on the tape. He complained about the damage suffered by his son and the fact that the city is in international newspapers for the use of racist language: “It makes me sick,” he said, and once again asked for the resignations of his colleagues.
“Los Angeles will heal,” he said. “I want to drive with love”.
Black and Latino voters often form political alliances. But the tensions and rivalries between groups separated by race, geography, party or religion are longstanding in Los Angeles and, indeed, across the country. The friction can extend to issues such as housing, education and employment, and even prisons, as well as the spoils of political power.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the recording was posted on Reddit by a now suspended user. It’s unclear who recorded the audio, who posted it on Reddit, and if anyone else was present.
